G7 leaders call on IEA to ensure political inclusivity through national dialogue

Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) on Saturday called on the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) to take steps to engage in credible, inclusive and Afghan-led national dialogue in order to ensure political inclusivity.

The G7 countries are the United States, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Canada and Italy.

“To remedy the persistent lack of political inclusivity and representation, we urge the Taliban to take significant steps to engage in credible, inclusive and Afghan-led national dialogue, in which all Afghans can be involved,” the leaders said in a statement after meeting in Japan’s Hiroshima.

They expressed “grave concern” over “increased threats to stability and the dire humanitarian and economic situation in Afghanistan.”

The leaders called on the IEA to uphold its counterterrorism commitments and to “ensure the territory of Afghanistan cannot be used to threaten or attack any country, to plan or finance terrorist acts, or to shelter and train terrorists.”

“We express our strongest opposition to the Taliban’s (IEA) systematic violations on human rights and fundamental freedoms, and call for the immediate reversal of unacceptable decisions, especially those against women and girls. All Afghans must enjoy full, equal, and meaningful participation in all spheres of public life, and have access to humanitarian assistance and basic services,” the statement said.